Town orders property owners to keep trash out of Monatiquot River

Braintree officials have ordered four property owners to remove mattresses, couches and other junk and debris that has been dumped along the banks of the Monatiquot River..

By Neal Simpson

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Neal Simpson

Posted Sep. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 21, 2013 at 9:10 PM

By Neal Simpson

Posted Sep. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 21, 2013 at 9:10 PM

BRAINTREE

» Social News

Town officials are ordering four property owners to remove mattresses, couches and other junk and debris that has been dumped along the banks of the Monatiquot River.

The town sent letters to the owners of two Elm Street apartment buildings earlier this month, ordering them to come up with a plan for removing the debris and preventing future dumping along the river, which has been the focus of ongoing environmental restoration efforts in recent years. The property owners could face daily fines if they do not comply.

Kelly Phelan, the town’s conservation planner, said she sent the orders after town personnel performing routine housing inspections spotted the debris, which had spilled down a steep incline onto conservation land behind the buildings. She said she is also sending enforcement orders to two owners of adjacent property, because they, too, are allowing trash to be dumped on conservation land.

The enforcement action comes as environmental advocates continue to work to clean up the Monatiquot with the hope of eventually restoring herring runs for fish that swam up from the Fore River to spawn in Great Pond.

Jodi Purdy-Quinlan, executive director of the Fore River Watershed Association, said dumping of trash along the river continues to be an obstacle to the effort.

“Unfortunately, there is debris through the entire Monatiquot,” she said. “We need the area clear so the herring can get up as far as they possibly can.”

The owners of the two offending apartment buildings – 245 and 255 Elm St. – have been ordered to appear before the conservation commission Oct. 3 to explain how they will clean up the trash and prevent more from falling down the incline, which is behind the apartments’ trash bins. Because heavy equipment is not allowed on the banks of the river, the trash must be removed by hand or with a crane.

Purdy-Quinlan said the watershed association is also rallying volunteers to help clear trash out of the Monatiquot River and nearby conservation land later this fall and next spring.

“We’re looking for some hardy souls who are not afraid to get in the water and pull out shopping carts and things like that,” she said.